Jan 6, 2026 - Health

Why making your bed is about more than tidying

Sami Sparber

Illustration of a bedroom floor plan with pencil scribbles and a coffee stain on it. An erasier sits on the floor plan, and some of the pencil scribbles have been erased. — Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios

If decluttering is your New Year's resolution, don't skip your bedroom — even if no one else sees it.

Why it matters: "When you don't make your own space a priority, it leads to feelings of stress, overwhelm, and a lack of control that you carry with you throughout your day," write authors Meg DeLong and Ea Fuqua of "Tidying Up."

To tidy up where you get ready, DeLong and Fuqua, co-founders of a Nashville-based organizing company, recommend these daily tasks:

Make your bed.
Clear your nightstand of clutter.
Put away your clothes.
Wipe down and organize your vanity. (They suggest storing your most-used products in a top drawer.)
Pick up items left on the floor.
Turn on a fan or crack a window.

The big picture: Anything that causes you anxiety doesn't belong in your bedroom, the two sisters write. (For example, laundry that needs folding or a stack of important documents.)

The goal is to "keep only those items that promote rest and relaxation."

The bottom line: "Creating a peaceful, organized bedroom isn't just about aesthetics. It's about setting the tone for both your day and night," DeLong and Fuqua write.

Add Axios on Google

Why making your bed is about more than tidying

What to read next